New Jersey native Marissa Lopez hit the sweet spot when she won TLC's Next Great Baker. Not only did she land a cool $10,000 and an apprenticeship at Carlo's Bakery, which is owned and run by Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro, but she also scored a spread in the June issue of Brides. In it she discusses life post-Next Great Baker, how to ace your wedding cake tasting, and her all-time favorite flavors.

We caught up with the 24-year old to talk wedding registry. We were dying to know what her must-have baking items would be for the newly wed kitchen. Here are her top five picks:

1. A Stand Alone Mixer. "Kitchen Aid is my favorite brand. All of the models are amazing, so you can't really go wrong. I just love them."

2. Aluminum Mixing Bowls. "I like aluminum because they don't break or burn, and they come in a million different sizes. They're very versatile and won't really break the bank either!"

3. Good Measuring Cups."Be sure to get both liquid and dry versions. Most people don't know this, but they're night and day different! I prefer the simple metal when it comes to dry measuring cups. Also, when I first started out I totally used those measuring spoons that tell you what a 'smidge' and a 'pinch' should be. I'm telling you they seriously helped."